Maemo or Android? Nokia N900 released

[Gucko]

Today I heard about the new release of Nokia N900 which runs on Maemo OS. Actually this is the first time I hear about that OS.

What do you think guys, which one is better Android or Maemo? I want to buy a smart phone but I'm confused between these OSs cuz they are both cool and powerful.

For people that don't know anything about Maemo check here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maemo_(operating_system) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maemo_%28operating_system%29)

Also the nokia n900 looks really SUPER powerful....really powerful device....it runs on Debian guys!!!! This is COOOOOOOOL and POWERFUL.

What makes me like Android more is because I'm a Java programmer ;)
Also I'm a good C programmer but I'm more better in Java than C. The last thing I learned about C is structures and trees and how to deal with it :( is that advanced topic btw?

[loell]

as of this writing meamo is mostly known working for nokia internet tablets such as the n900.

android on the other hand is really poised for smart phones. purposes of the two may interchange and/or overlap in the near future.

[amitabhishek]

I own Nokia N810 tablet and it rocks! Had they (Nokia) concentrated more on Maemo; their smartphone portfolio would have been much better! Symbian is a silly OS IMO!

[helliewm]

Yes I have an N810 and its a brilliant device I have root on my G1 (bought a couple of batteries as using the G1 as a modem uses battery power) and use my G1 as a wifi modem to connect to the N810.

The G1 and N810 together make an excellent mobile combination.

Helen

Ps I do have a Web n Walk Max data contract with T-Mobile so can use my G1 as a modem, including using VOIP/SKYPE. Its T_Mobile top data contract in the UK.

[loell]

lately in the news there was a leak for the new meamo, which many suspects that are now targeting the smartphone area. :)

so yeah, that's just an additional good stuff for all of us.

[NCLI]

Well, Android is totally open, so I'd go with that.

[Sand & Mercury]

Which is the one that can call people and send messages?

[Gucko]

Which is the one that can call people and send messages?
none!

lol....

[ssam]

Well, Android is totally open, so I'd go with that.

i think maemo wins on openness. also it is much closer to gnome/gtk so you can run big gnome apps on it without much porting effort (eg gnumeric runs fine on N800).

you can also install third party OS on the nokia tablets (eg mer (http://wiki.maemo.org/Mer) or arm ports of ubuntu or debian). there is no need to 'hack' or jailbreak the device.

though if you want the openest phone then you need openmoko

[Gucko]

I think any Android device should be the openest phone, right?

[Gucko]

Nokia N900 spec:
Maemo 5.0
3G support HSDPA
GPS
Motion sensors
firefox 3
multitasking
screen 3.5 inch 800X480 touch
500 MHz
5 megapixel hd camera
LED flash
microSDHC
Will be available in the middle east next month :)

[ssam]

I think any Android device should be the openest phone, right?

if you can't grab the source code, make a change upload the modified version on to your phone then its not very open.

here is a post a by a kernel hacker who wanted full access to his G1
http://lwn.net/Articles/318624/ the only reason it is possible is due to security bugs.

for the nokia tablets you just grab the flashing tool from maemo.org, and you can upload modified firmware or new kernels http://wiki.maemo.org/Updating_the_tablet_firmware . for example people discovered that you could make the flash cards run faster with a kernel patch that nokia did not want to include (i think there was a risk for some cards), but people could easily add the patch if they wanted.

also read http://mjg59.livejournal.com/100221.html?thread=1140605

[Gucko]

if you can't grab the source code, make a change upload the modified version on to your phone then its not very open.

here is a post a by a kernel hacker who wanted full access to his G1
http://lwn.net/Articles/318624/ the only reason it is possible is due to security bugs.

for the nokia tablets you just grab the flashing tool from maemo.org, and you can upload modified firmware or new kernels http://wiki.maemo.org/Updating_the_tablet_firmware . for example people discovered that you could make the flash cards run faster with a kernel patch that nokia did not want to include (i think there was a risk for some cards), but people could easily add the patch if they wanted.

also read http://mjg59.livejournal.com/100221.html?thread=1140605

So does that mean that Android devices won't be completely open source? Guys I'm want to get the full potential of my phone. I'm a computer engineering student and Java/C programmer. I want to do what ever I want in my phone and I mean WHATEVER I WANT. I don't want any closed door, I want everything open. Do you know what I mean. When I will pay about $600 for a smart phone, I want to feel that I REALLY OWN every aspect of my phone, not parts of it.

I'm now confused about which one is better.

[ssam]

So does that mean that Android devices won't be completely open source? Guys I'm want to get the full potential of my phone. I'm a computer engineering student and Java/C programmer. I want to do what ever I want in my phone and I mean WHATEVER I WANT. I don't want any closed door, I want everything open. Do you know what I mean. When I will pay about $600 for a smart phone, I want to feel that I REALLY OWN every aspect of my phone, not parts of it.

I'm now confused about which one is better.

if openness is your priority then openmoko is probably you best option. but have a good read up on it. http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Main_Page

or wait until the maemo phones are actually released.

[Gucko]

Are there any Maemo phones other than Nokia(now or in the future)?

What about Android? Why is it not so open?

I hate the openmoko, I simply don't like it. I like any SE with Android, but I have never seen a Maemo device.

[shreaded_teddy]

I had a n800 for a while that ran maemo (n810 only without a keyboard). I didn't care for it much, the specs on the device were too low and the usable apps were limited even after debian was ported to arm. I do like that the n900 supports t-mobile's 3g band but I'm not sure how well it will compare to something like the Motorola Droid in productivity, speed, or available apps.

[mrebanza]

I think any Android device should be the openest phone, right?

aaaaaant . . . WRONG!!!!!

FACT - Although the Android OS is based on Linux any and all Android devices that you can purchase on the mainstream market (aka HTC G1,MY TOUCH, DROID, NEXUS ONE ect) are locked by default and you the owner and user of the device are not given root access.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? - You know all the cool SUDO commands (you know those things you type into the terminal to fix problems and install cool hacks and apps that didn't make it into the Ubuntu App store yet?)

Yea those will not work on any Android/Linux OS device without major alterations (aka rooting or jail breaking the device)

That is why Firefox's mobile web browser "Fennec" is not available for any Android device despite the fact that it is Linux compatible and can even run on any Ubuntu desktop.

When you buy a Nokia N900 your Maemo/Linux OS is rooted by default which means you can run and install virtually any APP you can get your hands on.


http://thumbla.com/images/images/pidginicon.pngTheir is even Pidgin for Maemo OS (in case you didn't know Pidgin is an instant messaging client that allows you to manage multiple services at once - Everything from AIM to MSN - Grab it for FREE from the Ubuntu App store or at http://www.pidgin.im/)


FACT - Although Google claims that the Android OS is "Open Source" that did not stop Google's Lawyers from sending a "cease and desist" Letter to Android developer Cyanogen (http://twitter.com/Cyanogen).

http://thumbla.com/images/images/cyanogwgw.png

Cyanogen (http://twitter.com/Cyanogen) is one of the leading "INDEPENDENT" (aka not employed by Google and working solely to inprove the android OS for FREE) developers who contributes DISTROS (distributions of the OS or ROMS as they are call in the mobile world) of the Android OS custom built to make your Android Devices Work and Perform at it's BEST. Cyanogen Mod is easily the most popular custom Android rom with over 30,000 active users (http://twitter.com/cyanogen/status/4344145970).

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? - While Google's Legal claims where over stock apps such as G-Mail and the Android App Download Center, this brings Google Inc's two-faced spirit of OPENNESS into the light of day. Simular to moves made my Apple with the iPhone - Google want to heavily control the applications you are able to run on your device. Worse than Apple they use the CLAIM of open source to get developers involved in fixing and finding bugs in the OS and creating FREE & OPEN SOURCE applications for the Android App Store, when in reality Google isn't for openness - They are against it!


On the other hand . . .
The Nokia N900's verison of the Maemo App Center is 100% OPEN and works a lot like it does in Ubuntu . . . . It comes loaded by default to update from the Official Nokia OVI.COM App Store but you can add an online sources for Apps and Updates that you want including Maemo.org and Maemo BETA - After updating the software sources the app center is a mashup of all the available Apps from ALL SOURCES you choose!!!!



In Conclusion ....
http://thumbla.com/images/images/verizondro.jpg

Their are plenty of reasons why you might find that the Android/Linux OS is better than Maemo aka seamlessly integrates with all of your Google Account Services (go figure) more apps in the app store, ect.

http://thumbla.com/images/images/nokianquq.jpg


Just as their are tons of reasons why you might find that the Maemo/Linux OS is better than Android aka built-in mobile Firefox,FULL in page Adobe FLASH 9 (not just a youtube APP), Two Camera's for Skype Video Chatting, it's a real computer in your pocket!!!


The point is that >IF Google Android is going to win the race for best mobile OS it is definitely not going to be for OPENNESS!!! I personally do not own a Nokia N900 but I have been reading up about it for the past couple of days and must say the high price tag is very tempting. I have owned a HTC G1 for the past year and Although I have found it extremely buggy when multi-tasking, I have been quite happy with it. I recently sold my G1 on ebay and I am on the Market for a Nokia N900.


If you are smart enough to use Ubuntu on a daily basis than I think you will love Maemo.



Look at that my rant turned into a blog post :popcorn:


Maemo vs Android (http://addicted-2-retail.com/maemo-vs-android-nokia-n900-vs-nexus-one-review/)

[Bodestone]

Or if you want the best of both worlds....

http://gizmodo.com/5455495/watch-a-nokia-n900-dual+boot-maemo-and-android

[beastrace91]

Or if you want the best of both worlds....

http://gizmodo.com/5455495/watch-a-nokia-n900-dual+boot-maemo-and-android

I have an N900 - Android on it is not usable as of yet in the slightest. It is a nice tech demo though. Hopefully we will see someone hack out better support for it soon :)

~Jeff

[kreggz]

You guys are funny -

Android is open source http://source.android.com/ I don't know about Maemo but saying Android is not open is wrong.

If you want to make apps for Android at this stage you have to write it in Java.

Google went after Cyogen because he was releasing Google proprietary apps with his mod. You can download these apps from the Market for free so no big deal. I bet if you were re-releasing Nokia proprietary apps they would be after you too.

[semua]

You guys are funny -

Android is open source http://source.android.com/ I don't know about Maemo but saying Android is not open is wrong.



Yes, Android is open source, but:

The android devices are all closed
Android is a "closed island". It based on Linux but completely different to the rest of Linux distros, applications.
Android requires modifications in the Linux kernel that are not pushed upstream [1]



[1] http://www.kroah.com/log/linux/android-kernel-problems.html

[NoBugs!]

Maemo may be a really nice OS, but aren't there only like 2 models of phones that run it?
Android phones are readily available at almost any phone store, and there are hundreds available on ebay and other places.

The original Android G1 has around 500mhz, 200mb ram, this could practically be a computer! So why aren't there any linux distros (like maemo) that have been modified to run on Android phones??